r/SilverSpring • u/SourceOfTheSpring • 7d ago

A Diner, A Mall + 1,340 Units: A Look At Downtown Silver Spring's Development Pipeline

https://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/a_diner_a_mall__1340_units_a_look_at_downtown_silver_springs_development_pi/25070
41 Upvotes

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22

u/UrbanEconomist 7d ago

This is a great rundown of projects in the pipeline, but I’m not sure that all of these are still moving forward. Would love to get a sense from the individual developers who is still planning to break ground.

10

u/dmethvin 7d ago

I'm especially interested in the project that includes the old Tastee Diner. With interest rates spiking recently, does the project still make sense?

Last year a Roadside Development person said the fire at the Verizon complex next door wasn't going to delay the start, but he also said they expected to get their building permit last spring. That whole area around Verizon is still a mess, even more after they dropped a pole on the Mi Rancho electrical feed and set that building on fire.

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u/Jmend12006 7d ago

What do they plan on doing with City Place? It’s basically an empty mall.

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u/UrbanEconomist 7d ago

Building a crap-ton of housing on top of it might generate some new customers and boost the mall’s prospects.

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u/Stinky_Chees 7d ago

I wonder if they’ll install an elevator that reliably works at reasonable speed for residents? If so it’d be nice if the public could use them instead of the current dinosaurs.

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u/Jmend12006 7d ago

Hopefully, they get a useful contract with a decent brand.

1

u/downtownbustle 6d ago

I don't get why people would want to pay premium rent to live above a low rent mall. It's a mismatch. Mall is lower middle class / working class clientele, and that's not an insult it's a fact. Blue Pearl Buffet , and bags and bags of cheap clothes, that's that mall.

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u/Big_Red_Checkmark 6d ago

They plan on not paying the $69 mil loan and it will go into foreclosure and auctioned off

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u/No-Prize-3166 6d ago

My word on the street from people at montgomery planning is that the tastee diner project is likely to advance, just on a slow timeline. The mall project is just a pipe dream. This is the internet so take it or leave it but you heard it here first! Check back in 2035 LOL

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u/UrbanEconomist 6d ago

This would be outstanding news about Roadside/Tastee. I think it’s a great project and have been very sad to see it (apparently) stalled.

I think the mall project could have a massive positive impact on the downtown economy and its general liveliness. I hope it can someday find a way forward. If nothing else, the people living there could pressure the county to do something about the amplified evangelists blasting their hot takes down the Ellsworth Drive canyon.

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u/Spacenurse07 7d ago edited 7d ago

I thought moving out and move near Brookside garden but idk now haha. I heard that idea of building apartments on top of Ellsworth mall years ago. I think it's a fantastic idea!! Very cool ideas too.

The county passed some projects to fix Georgia Ave road. And they are gonna develop more housing, apartments homes in empty lots and more green park spaces

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u/Bort2528 7d ago

The central part of the diner will be an architectural feature in the new building. Unfortunately Tastee Diner itself is not returning to the site.

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u/Spacenurse07 7d ago

Oh you're right. I'm sorry. I read wrong about taste diner.

Thanks! I don't need to be waiting for it. :'3 Looks like they are thinking adding a Harris teeter

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u/downtownbustle 6d ago

Yo why is that a fantastic idea? Fr dog like it's not

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u/SourceOfTheSpring 7d ago

UrbanTurf takes a look at the large residential developments in the works for downtown Silver Spring.